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The Exodus Decoded is a 2006 documentary created by Jewish Canadian filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici, in which new evidence is explored. It is partially narrated by film director James Cameron, and also features input by Charles Pellegrino, author of Unearthing Atlantis. Jacobovici suggests that the Exodus took place around 1500 BCE during the reign of pharaoh Ahmose I, and coincided with the eruption of Santorini that most scholars believe ended the Minoan civilisation, although this is usually dated to 1623 BCE (+/-30). In the documentary, the plagues that ravaged Egypt in the Bible are explained as having resulted from that volcanic eruption, and a related limnic eruption in the Nile river delta. While much of Jacobovici's archaeological evidence for the Exodus comes from Egypt, a surprising quantity comes from Mycenae, on mainland Greece.

The documentary made extensive use of computer animation. It ran for two hours and was first aired in Canada on April 16, (Easter Day) 2006.

Egyptian Archaeological Evidence

• The Hyksos Expulsion, contemporaneous Egyptian records of the departure of the mysterious Semitic Hyksos people. Jacobovich suggests that the Hyksos and the Hebrews were one and the same, a thesis he supports with Egyptian-style signet rings uncovered in the Hyksos capital of Avaris (30°47'14.71"N, 31°49'16.92"E) that read "Yakov/Yakub ," (from "Yaqub-her") similar to the Hebrew name of the Biblical patriarch Jacob (Ya'aqov).

• The Ahmose stele, a stone tablet unearthed in Karnak by Henri Chevalier at an unknown exact date over 100 years ago. In it, a god incurs one of the same plagues described in the Biblical account (darkness, also described as "a great storm"). The Exodus Decoded official website quotes the stele, "How much greater is this the impressive manifestation of the great God, than the plans of the gods!" This translation was, however, based on a note taken by Chevalier when the stele was found, in the early stages of hieroglyphic translation. They also state that they saw, on a copy of the stele, a section that refers to "parting water". This was shown, however, to be pronounced "mee", an alternate spelling of an ancient word for wine.

• Ahmose I. Jacobovici suggests that the name of the Pharaoh at the time of the Exodus may have been a paronomasia. Jacobovici states that in Hebrew, the Egyptian name Ahmose would mean "Brother of Moses." The documentary also examines the mummy of Ahmose's son, Sapair, who appears to have died at the age of twelve. In the Bible, the pharaoh loses a son to the Plague of the Firstborn, although Jewish tradition says that the son of Pharaoh survived. Also, the name of Ahmose I was mispronounced in the documentary. In the documentary it was pronounced "ĀḤKH-mōsay", when it is actually pronounced "Ā-mōs". Also, while the Egyptian mos can become Mošə in Hebrew, it cannot happen in the reverse. The Egyptian "s" corresponds to the Hebrew "š" ("sh") when transliterating from Egyptian, however, in the reverse, "š" stays the same.

• Serabit el-Khadim turquoise mine, a labor camp in the Sinai with a Semitic aphabetic inscription that reads "O El, save me from these mines." The use of "El" suggests that it was written before the revelation at Sinai, supporting the thesis that Hebrews were enslaved in Egypt, although this inscription was undated. It has been noted, however, that Hebrews were never used in the mines, and that the labor force was soley Egyptian.

Previous Research

• Jewish historian Flavius Josephus suggested in his work Contra Apion that the Hyksos were, in fact, the ancient Hebrews. His theories, however, are known to be based on false etymologies (which were, in fact, the basis of this claim), and he was also known to give much credit to his ancestors. Also, this identification was just used as a response to the anti-Semitic Exodus claim by Manetho.

• This is a similar theory to that first expounded in the international best-seller Act of God written by British historian Graham Phillips. This ground-breaking book was published in 1998.

• Much of this thesis has already been researched and published by Ralph Ellis. His work in this field is called Tempest & Exodus, which was first published in 2000. Ralph also links the Hyksos with the Israelite Exodus, and suggested that the Ahmose stele not only contains an account of the Exodus, but also has biblical 'quotes' engraved upon it.

Mycenaean Archaeological Evidence

• Gravestones. Three of the stones marking the wealthy tombs of Grave Circle A in Mycenae, Jacobovici states, appear to depict the parting of the Sea of Reeds. A man on a chariot (who Jacobovici uncautiously identifies as Ahmose I) is shown in pursuit of a man on foot (who he again identifies as Moses) who is holding what archaeologists have commonly referred to as a spear or sword, but which Jacobovici believes is Moses' miraculous staff. Above and below the scene are rows of swirls which, in the Exodus interpretation, represent water, although they are a very common Greek design with no relation to water. The common suggestion is that this scene depicts a chariot race, not a chase.

• A Gold ornament excavated from one of the tombs in the Grave Circle is believed by Jacobovici to show the Ark of the Covenant against a background of the tabernacle altar. However, when you compare the photo of the gold ornament to the Biblical story of God telling Moses how to build the Ark, the descriptions differ in several ways. Jacobovich suggests that members of the Tribe of Dan may have emigrated to Mycenae after the Exodus. This, the documentary suggests, is why Homer refers to the buried at Mycenae as "Danaoi." The Greek myth states that, however, that the Danaoi were descended from the Argosites under the matriarch Danae.

Scientific Conjectures

Jacobovici suggests that the Biblical Exodus took place shortly after the eruption of Thera (now known as Santorini), which is thought to have happened some time between 1650 BCE and 1600 BCE. The dates are disputed, depending on whether you prefer to use archaeological dating results (1600 BCE to 1550 BCE), or radiocarbon dating results (1650 BCE to 1600 BCE). Jacobovitch accepts a date around 1500 BCE. He goes on to explain how each of the Mosaic plagues, and even the parting of the Sea of Reeds, could be explained by earthquakes, faulting and a limnic disaster all caused by Santorini.

One possible scientific conjecture of the past has referred to a spot on the western end of a now-dried lake where it has been observed in the past to turn to a sandbar and facilitate foot travel when a low tide and a strong eastern wind coincide. Jacobovici refers to the possibility of the bed of the reed-filled lake rising out of the water due to geological movements, leaving the water on the sides and below the bed. The text of the story of Exodus 14:21-22 states that there were literal walls of water on either side, making this explanation incomplete. "Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left." Jacobovici's theories intend to provide some plausible basis for stories later embellished, thus a paucity of evidence for physical impossibilities like "walls of water" does not injure his hypothesis, although, interestingly, it would conflict with Jacobvici's beliefs, as he states the Torah is flawless.

His scientific theories are under much criticism. It has also been noted that his calcite deposits-theory is purely impossible.

Theology

The documentary notes that most historians consider the Exodus a "fairy tale," while others reject scientific explanations that are not explicitly miraculous. Jacobovich reminds that God, according to the Judeo-Christian description, can control nature, having an intimate understanding of it. His miracles may therefore be efficient and exploit natural cycles and logic.

The documentary ends with a voiceover saying, in effect, "Was the Exodus just a natural event or was it the hand of God? We'll leave that for the viewer to decide."

References

1. http://boards.historychannel.com/thread.jspa?threadID=800013531&tstart=0&mod=1156859232351
2. http://boards.historychannel.com/forum.jspa?forumID=800000048
3. http://boards.historychannel.com/thread.jspa?threadID=800013655&tstart=0&mod=1156914779686
4. http://boards.historychannel.com/thread.jspa?threadID=800013655&tstart=0&mod=1156914779686
5. http://boards.historychannel.com/thread.jspa?threadID=800013531&tstart=0&mod=1156859232351

See also

• The Exodus
• Book of Exodus
• Moses
• Passage of the Red Sea
• Mount Sinai
• Thera (Santorini) eruption Association with the Exodus
• Plagues of Egypt

External links

• The Exodus Decoded Official Website
• The Official Graham Phillips Website - Act of God

There is a website www.theexodusdecoded.com where you can view the entire film, but I also have it on VHS from The History Channel (complete with commercials).

James Cameron (of The Titanic underwater recovery and movie) produces the film, based on the journalistic work of Simcha Jacobovici, Canada's top documentary filmmaker. One scholar states "Something shaped Israel's identity..." while another says "What would have to be found to prove it?" . Jacobovici qualifies the film saying that no scholar "fully subscribes to our take of the story", but there is obviously more archeological evidence than simply the zero that some skeptics claim.

Archeological evidence to back up the exodus:

Discovered in 1947, the Egyptian stele Ahmose at the Cairo museum tells of rain, thunder, and lightning in a great rare storm about 1500 BCE. It also tells of Egypt being enveloped in darkness and refers to God in the singular (Egyptians believed in many gods). These parallel the Exodus telling of a great hailstorm and darkness descending over Egypt, and points to the fact that there was some group of people in ancient Egypt who believed in one god like the Hebrews did - why not the Hebrews themselves?

Pharaoh Ahmose's father's (Sequenere Tao II) remains are in the Cairo museum, with a skull reported to have been crushed by his enemies. Pharaoh Ahmose's wife's remains are also there. Pharaoh Ahmose's remains have also been found, along with the remains of his son who died at the young age of 12, which confirms that Pharaoh's son died an untimely death such as the one described in the Passover account. Pharaoh Ahmose dates from about 1500 BCE, whereas most exodus scholars believe that it happened during the time of Raamses II in the 13th century before Christ (ca. 1270 BCE). Ahmose sounds like the Hebrew words meaning "brother of Moses".

The Hyksos period could be somewhere between 1750 BCE and 1500 BCE, with their expulsion some time around 1500 BCE under Ahmose. In the 1960's the Hyksos capital Avaris was discovered north of Cairo. The nation of Egypt does not want any findings from the Hyksos to lend support to the history of Israel, for fear that it would bolster Israel's claim to land and nationhood (be it in Egypt, or be it in Palestine). An archeologist with the University of Vienna is made to bury his digs every year, in the name of conservation, but he has documented the seal of authority that was purportedly used by Joseph and his officials. The seal was found on nine different rings, one of which was captured on the film, and the inscription bears the name of Jacob (also known as Israel).

To film the city of Avaris the film crew had to wait months for permission, and convince the Egyptian authorities that the research was for Pharaoh Ahmose and the Hyksos, not because of the Exodus. It was a walled city with a large expansion, palaces, and surrounded by branches of the Nile river. The Hyksos were Semites who ruled from there until they were expelled and left in a mass exodus eastwards. Biblical scholars place the Exodus at about 480 years before Solomon, in about 1470 BCE, which is very close to the 1500 BCE date that the film uses.

About 200 years before the expulsion is when Jacob's family arrived in Egypt for the famine. Going 400 kms. south of Avaris to the gravesite (tomb) of Beni Hasam (1700 BC), there is a mural showing a people migrating into Egypt. Clues that these are the Hebrews show that they are bearded Semites, travelling with donkeys and flocks of sheep, and that they wear multi-colored tunics. The hieroglyphics call them the "amo", and the name "Amo Israel" means "God's people".

In Serabit El Hadim in the Sinai desert, the Egyptians mined turquoise with slave labor. On Misplaced Pages it says that no Hyksos slaves were used - only Egyptian slaves. Nevertheless, on the cave wall, in an alphabetic writing (as opposed to a hieroglyphic writing) are the words "El, save me!" made with chisel marks. The name El is a name for God which goes back to Abraham and predates the name Jehovah by which Moses knew God. The Bedouins live in that area and know the cave, although the history of the writing goes back to what the film calls "old papers from obscure journals". This is the oldest or second oldest alphabetic inscription known to scholars, and such alphabetic writing was the origin of Aramaic, Greek, Hebrew, and Arabic.

The Ipuwer (Ipuwar?) plagues papyrus talks about a volcanic hail similar to what the Bible and Jewish tradition describe as the seventh plague.

Mass graves in Avaris from about the year 1500 showed a group of all-male victims of asphyxiation, paralleling the exodus account that all Egyptian, male, firstborn had died, while women and others survived. One of the reasons Pharaoh "let the people go" or "expelled them", was that he had seen the specificity of the plague and believed that it was God instead of simply a natural event that would have happened anyway.

There is other archeological evidence in the film, but this is just from the first part.

Geological evidence for the exodus:

700 kms from Egypt in the Mediterranean Sea is the Santorini volcano, or the island of Santorini which literally is the mouth of the volcano. In one of the worst eruptions in history, Santorini was destroyed, bringing the end of the Minoan civilization. The sound of the explosion circled the earth 10-12 times (thunder? of the Ahmose stele?), and the ash cloud rose 40 kms and spread out over about 200 kms wide. The immense energy involved was hundreds or thousands of times the atomic bomb of Hiroshima, and it resulted in a rapid succession of earthquakes of magnitudes 3, 4, and/or 5. It took place about 3500 years ago. Many put the date at 1600 BC, but some archeologists date it to 1500 BC based on the pumice found at that particular archeological layer. Grains of that identity of pumice (or ash) (from Santorini) are found in the Nile Delta, and to find them, about 10,000-20,000 grains had to be sorted through for each grain of ash. Altogether, about 40 grains of Santorini ash were found and verified. This particular ash has a type of unique "fingerprint".

According to the Ahmose stele, the statutes of the Egyptian gods were toppled in the storm. It seems to have been an "earthquake storm" of the type that can occur in the eastern Meditteranean, where several fault lines run together, as well as where the African and European plates meet. Santorini is right above near where the plates meet, and Egypt has three fault zones in or nearby - one which runs under Avaris (another along the Suez Canal).

The Santorini explosion/eruption and the fault zones seem to give related reasons for all ten plagues:

1) The blood-red water from gas leaks. Similar coloration appeared in Cameroon in 1984 and 1986, at a lake Wynoon? and Nyos, respectively. Professor George Kling explains that it comes from dissolved iron forming iron hydroxide which is much like rust. Along the Nile Delta it is plausible that there was build-up of gas trapped in pockets and released by the earthquakes. This would set into motion a chain of events matching the plagues.

2) Without oxygen in the water, the fish die, and the frogs go to land to survive, thus the frogs hop out and we have the plague of frogs.

3) No clean water leads to lice, 4) flies, and 5) epidemics.

6) Boils and blisters appeared on man and beast in 1986 in Cameroon -strange boils and burns, from when the carbon? dioxide mixes with the air.

7) The strange hail was fire and ice mixed together - "a miracle of opposites in creation coexisting". The volcanic ashe rises so high that it mixes with cold and moisture in the air forming a special kind of frozen hailstone with burning ash in the nucleus. This is known as volcanic hail, or "ecretionary lapille?".

8) The locusts travel in swarms of 40-80 million per square km, and when their body temperature drops the land in mass, as the hailstorm clears and the temperature rises.

9) The seismic activity causes the African plate to move under the European plate creating steam and small eruptions until the final eruption. It would take some time for the 40km (height) by 200 km (radius) ash cloud to reach the Nile Delta, but when it did there would be a palpable darkness, during which one could neither see well nor breathe well, as described in the Exodus account and in the stele Ahmose.

10) When the gas leak erupted and turned the water red, the carbon dioxide would sit underwater capped by the surface, as happened in Cameroon in 1986, but later it reached a critical point on August 21st, 1986 when an earthquake led to rocks breaking the surface. The top of the lake kept the gasses trapped until then, but overnight, the invisible gas became a visible fog as it seeped to the surface, and then it lay low and spread over land before "as suddenly as it appeared" dissipating/disappearing harmlessly into the air. Before dissipating, the carbon dioxide low-lying fog killed 1800 people in 1986, along with killing cattle and small animals, but those who were on high ground survived the night. One family of 56 had only 3 survivors.

Something similar happening in Egypt would result in the death of the firstborn Egyptians who slept on low-lying beds, while the rest of the family slept in less privileged places such as rooftops, sheds, and wagons. The Israelites were sitting upright having their passover meal instead of sleeping at all. Archeologists found mass graves at Avaris: mass graves before 1500 BCE seemed to be from epidemics, but a particular grouping of bodies around 1500 BC was only males who apparently died from asphyxiation and who were covered with much less dirt than the earlier graves. The body of Pharaoh Ahmose's son was found by the crew in the Cairo Museum; he had died at age 12.

There is a lot more to the film, including discoveries which confirm the existence of Mount Sinai as described in Exodus, the cloud by day and pillar of fire by night, the parting of the Red Sea, and the artifacts such as the Ark of the Covenant, but this is all I have time to write about tonight.

• Television documentaries